Mother’s Day Walk

May 12, 2013:  What did Sunday’s Mother’s Day Walk at The Reserve consist of?   Fresh air, sunshine, beautiful scenic views, fun folks and lots of interesting plants and animals to discover.  Mother Nature at its best. We headed out on Gato Road and were welcomed with a rich mosaic of wildflowers still in bloom.  The Sticky Monkeyflower made many hillsides look like they had been painted orange.  The Mariposa Lilies, Golden Stars, Blue-eyed Grass, Yarrow, CA Everlasting and Morning Glories were some of the other colorful flowers seen.  Not to be left out, the Blue Elderberry Trees were lush with large clusters of delicate white blossoms.  Along the trail we came across two tarantula burrows and discovered each had a tarantula peeking out of them!  Other smaller trail critters enjoying Mother’s Day with our group were caterpillars, butterflies, bees, harvester ants…and birds such as Scrub Jays, House Wrens, Turkey Vultures, and Hawks.  And it wouldn’t be Mother’s Day at The Conservancy without saying hello to the wonderful 500-year-old Mother Oak.  Her large outstretched branches seemed to embrace us with majestic dignity and love.  This Mother’s Day walk reminded us how lucky we are (and how important it is) to have such beautiful protected habitat.  As John Muir said, “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”